Ozlander

by Samantha Liddell

  Scott looked confused. “How do you know that Letticia? You have had it in for him from the moment we picked him up."

  “How do I know Scott? Well, its plain as day isn't it? It's written all over his ear in one big red birthmark, plus he has an Irish accent. The exact description that was given out on the news at my parents’ house the other night. That is how I know Scott."

  Scott started to believe my theory. "I always said you can never trust the Irish." Scott said.

  "Oh, now you say that”, I said in frustration. “We need to search his bags.” I started giving out orders, “Scott you look in the backpack and I will check out the bum bag." we both started to unzip the bags and what we found was what we had both suspected, or more like what I had suspected. It was full of jewellery. "Scott we need to get out of here and get these bags to the police station.

  “Aye that we do Sassenach." And with that we drove off at great speed only to get a few metres down the road before our Toyota Corolla overheated and smoke started coming out of the bonnet. “Hells Bells, quick grab Emmett’s bags and run and hide in the bush." Scott was now giving out the orders. I agreed and did as I was told. With all the panic we ditched the car, forgetting our own bags and ran off into the bush to hide from Emmett. We needed to get these bags full of stolen jewellery to the police station before Emmett found us again.

  We started to run deep into the bush, I could hear leaves crunching beneath my feet, we ducked to avoid dangling branches from trees all the time holding on tightly to the two bags. We finally came to a stop in a cave-like area near a stream. I asked Scott what the time was. He said, “11am, we needed to get a move on to Biboohra as soon as possible.” We decided we would have to walk the rest of the way into Biboohra. It should only take 45 minutes on foot from where we were. We remembered at that moment we had left our bags in the car so we would have to go back and collect them. Hopefully Emmett was long gone by now, Maybe he had hitched a ride with somebody else driving past.

  As we left the cave I noticed Scott was badly sunburnt down the right-hand side of his body. He looked like a jam drop biscuit. One side of him was completely red the other side of him was completely white, I giggled at the sight of him. “Oh dear god Scott you have a case of drivers sunburn." I told him.

  "What do you mean?” Scott asked confused.

  "The side of you that was facing the driver’s door has been completely sunburnt while driving." I replied.

  “Oh, I was wondering why my right side was tingling and starting to ache. Do I look terribly unprofessional?" Scott asked concerned for his appearance for the contract meeting that was coming up in the next few hours.

  "Well yeah," I said honestly “but it's not all about looks, let's just get that contract signed in any shape or form.” Scott agreed, got up and backed away from where he had been standing in a lot of pain. He didn't look behind him until it was too late, sliding down an embankment and landing at the bottom of a river bank. Before I knew what had happened I heard that same Snake scream that had deafened my ears earlier when Scott fell into the bushes, high pitched like a little girl. "Snakes! Snakes!" Scott yelled out.

  I poked my head over the edge and ensured him there were no snakes down there. Although now Scott was stuck down there unable to climb back up due to the slippery steep surface of the ground. I yelled to him to wait right there, “I will be right back” I said.

  He yelled back “Well yeah it's not like I can go anywhere.” I searched for something to pull him up with. Now what would Claire do in this position in order to get her Jamie out I thought. I answered my own question, No doubt she would call upon Murtagh, and unfortunately I did not have a Murtagh to call upon. Instead I found a long vine that had fallen from a tree. I picked it up and threw it over the edge. “Scott take a hold and I will help you up” I said, “you will have to climb as well though, I’m not strong enough to pull you up on my own.”

  “Aye will do." Scott yelled back. “Just get me out of this snake pit would ya.”

  We worked together to get him back up to safety. Once he was back beside me we hugged then both agreed we needed to get moving.

  We headed back in the direction of the car when cramp set in my leg. My lower calf had cramped up. I collapsed in pain, unable to walk. Scott stopped not sure what had happened to me. "Letticia are you ok, did you get a snake bite?" he asked concerned.

  "Scott there are no snakes here, relax it's just a cramp.” Scott looked relieved that there were no snakes so scooped me up in a cradle-like position and walked me out of the bush all the way back to the car.

  He opened the door and placed me in the passenger seat. He went to find his bag to get the first aid kit out. Scott was always prepared. However, there was no first aid kit because our bags and wallets were gone. The only thing left were our plane tickets that were safely stored away in the glove department.

  "Hells Bells that Irish Rat has stolen our bags." Scott announced in disbelief.

  “May I say something Scott? I asked.

  Scott answered “Why yes of course, you don't need to ask.”

  “Well then I believe that this is a good time to tell you, I told you so, but would you listen no!”

  “Aye, yes you were right Letticia, from now on I will listen to you.” he half laughed.

  Just then flashing lights appeared behind our car. A police office emerged from the driver side and walked towards us. At last some good luck I thought. The officer will be able to help us and sort out this mess and hopefully find Emmett. He approached the car. Scott and I were standing outside the passenger’s side door. "Good morning" the officer said. "Now what is the matter here, why are you stopped on such a dangerous area of road? You are right on the corner, it's not safe.” Scott looked at me as if to say, ‘I told you so, see it is important to find a safe place to stop.’ I ignored that look, after all I can't help where the car decides to break down.

  Scott then answered the officer question. “Well long story short we have been robbed by the hitchhiker we picked up.” Scott said in his very Scottish accent.

  The Officer observed Scott, and said, "Mmmmm an Irish man are we?” he then looked Scott up and down and was then focused on Scots left ear lobe that was covered in my red lipstick and looked like one huge birthmark. Scott was about to correct him by saying no a Scottish man actually feeling rather insulted, but before he could, the officer demanded to search the vehicle and us. He opened up the bags we were holding and to his amazement came face to face with the stolen jewellery. I interrupted and tried to explain everything and how the bags didn't belong to us but to an Irish hitchhiker by the name of Emmett. But he wouldn't listen. Instead he took Scott away in the police car back to Biboohra police station for questioning.

  As he pulled away, I yelled out “Scott I will get you out of this, I promise."

  Scott yelled back. “Letticia just make your way to Biboohra. Don't go looking for that Irish rat he's dangerous.”

  As Scott was driven off he somehow sneakily threw out a pair of handcuffs from the police car window. Really Scott I thought, this is so not the time for thinking about that. I went over and picked them up anyway and put them in my pocket as now might not be the time but I’m sure we would find an appropriate time sooner or later.

  I giggled to myself at the thought.

  Chapter Ten

  Going Bush with the Irish Rat

  I was now standing on the side of the road next to the broken down car with nothing but what I had on me. Just then I caught sight of the Irish rat. He was hiding behind a tree watching the whole situation unfold as Scott and his bags of jewellery got taken away to the police station. I yelled “Emmett you get back here right this minute.” He started to run in the opposite direction. I needed to catch him and return him to the police station in exchange for Scott. How I was going to do that, I had no idea.

  I chased after him, as he headed back into the bush. I had to catch him fast before we both went too deep into the bush that we ge
t lost. I decided to change up my tactics instead of chasing him I would outsmart him. Just as I had that day in the Uber car with Luke when I was getting chased by the 3 wise men from the airport and we took the exit off the motorway at the very last minute resulting in the 3 wise men having to continue down the motorway until they reached the next exit. I decided I would apply the same sort of tactic here but this time I was the 3 wise men in hot pursuit. I stopped chasing but kept my eye on him as I hid and ducked behind trees and bushes. He thought I had lost him as he could no longer see me. He took this opportunity to catch his breath. We were now back down near the river bank where only moments before Scott and I been. I knew my surroundings now so was confident I could outsmart him.

  Emmett, relaxed and let his guard down as he bent down to splash some water over his face from the river. Bad move I thought to myself. I felt like I was the cat and he was the mouse. I was in the stalking stage of my chase, any minute I would pounce and win the fight. I creeped up slowly behind him. The handcuffs in my pocket felt bulky and annoying, then I thought ‘Handcuffs, oh that’s why Scott secretly threw them out the police car. It wasn't for a kinky reason at all it was for a practical reason, they were for me to catch Emmett with as I performed my citizen’s arrest.’

  Right I was in position. Emmett was still unaware I was right behind him, until I jumped on him from behind. We fell into the shallows of the river, I tackled him and we wrestled around for a moment or two. Emmett was trying to free himself from my arm lock that I had learned while binge watching Outlander. Meanwhile I was trying to handcuff him to me so I could drag his Irish rats butt into the Police station and free my Jamie, I mean my Scott from Wentworth Prison, I mean Biboohra police station.

  Come on Letticia, I said to myself, “I cannot afford to drift off into ‘Outlander’ world, I need to stay focused if I want to free Scott and get that contract signed in time.” Click, I heard the Handcuffs locking together. I did it I had locked both our hands together. I was now stuck with this Irish rat attached to me until we made it back to the Police station. "What did you just do?” Emmett said. “How the Hell do you plan on dragging me to wherever it is you plan on taking me too. I believe I am just that tad bit stronger than you Lady." Emmett said. He was right about that. He refused to move, I tried pulling him, and I tried pushing him but he wouldn't budge.

  Right I will have to outsmart him then and talk him into it. "Well lady looks like we are going bush for the night, hope the Dingoes are not hungry or the snakes for that matter" he pointed out.

  "Yeah well let’s just hope they can smell a rat when they see one and they stay away." I replied.

  “I think you will find snakes are rather attracted to rats for dinner.” Emmett so kindly pointed out to me. We sat down beneath a huge gum tree, Emmett was not planning on moving anytime soon. I on the other hand needed to get him moving.

  So I started on a mind game to persuade him to give himself up. "So Emmett, Where are you from?”

  "Glasgow Ireland” he responded.

  “How long have you been in Australia for now?”

  “12 Years” he replied. He was playing along nicely and was happy to answer my questions with no hesitation.

  “So tell me about your family, where do your parents live?” This was the Golden question that I was leading into. I knew this question would strike a chord with him as anyone who would rob jewellery stores must have had a bad upbringing. I did however, often jump to conclusions.

  He paused for a few seconds before answering. “Well Letticia I was actually brought up as a child going from one foster family to the next until I was about 12 years old and the family I had been put with this time had decided to adopt me. That family had 3 kids of their own and neither of the kids ever took to me or wanted me there. I felt like I didn't belong. I had nowhere else to go until I turned 18, and on that day I packed my bags and moved to London for a few years to work in some bars. I then decided to move to Australia on a one year working holiday Visa. This was where I met the girl of my dreams. She kept me on the straight and narrow, I finally, after all those years, felt as if I belonged to somebody, like I mattered. We were together for 5 years until one day I came home and found she had packed her stuff and left, she ran off with my best mate. Never to be seen or heard from again. After that all hell broke loose, I had nothing left. I got caught up with the wrong crowd but at least I felt I belonged with them and had a purpose."

  This story was breaking my heart. But I had to keep to my plan for Scott's Sake. So here comes my spiel about turning your life around. "Oh Emmett, no wonder you find yourself in the position you are in today. Every child needs to feel they have a place and somewhere they can call home and people who love them. How did that 5 years feel for you when you were in that relationship with that girl?" I asked.

  "It felt wonderful, I felt like I had finally turned over a new leaf, I had passion, I had goals. I had Love in my life at last." He said.

  "Now tell me have you felt that way at all since the day she left." I asked.

  "No not once, not one single second, minute or day." He replied.

  “And from the day she left have you been mixed up with that wrong crowd."

  Emmett started to tear up. "Yes, from the very day she left I moved into a flat with people that were no hopers, they got me into some terrible things” he said.

  “Well Emmett, the good news is it's never too late to write a new chapter in your life, I for one highly recommend it.” I told him all about my journey to Scotland and the new chapters I have started to write for myself. "Emmett the hardest part of starting over and getting those new chapters written is getting started. Once you find the self-confidence and the self-belief in yourself to just start, these new chapters just start rolling, the rest follows and before you know it, amazing things are happening, new doors are opening for you, and opportunities you never thought could happen to you start to happen." Emmett looked away for a minute while he was deep in thought, as if he was considering agreeing with me. Well, it was either that or he was planning how to get away from this crazy lady.

  With his head turned it gave me time to look at my watch, 11.15am, time was ticking. I needed to get Emmett to that police station no later than 12pm. I interrupted his deep in thought moment rather abruptly “So Emmett what are you going to do?”

  "Well what do you suggest I do?" he asked with doubt in his voice.

  “Well first things first Emmett you need to hand yourself in and sort out this whole Jewellery robbery business and stop doing it." I said abruptly.

  “You are right, I can’t start writing new chapters until I end the chapter I find myself in now" He said.

  "Yes precisely Emmett.” I replied, I was actually impressed with his realisation on this subject, I think he actually gets it. "Well then on ya feet Soldier, we need to get you to Biboohra Police station before 12pm." I said with panic in my voice.

  "12pm, why 12pm?" Emmett asked sounding confused.

  "Oh um so I can get my Scott back and we can sign an important piece of paper that will start a new chapter in our life’s also."

  “Well in that case what are we waiting for?" Emmett said. And with that we were making our way back up to the roadside.

  We got to the broken down Toyota Corolla I decided to give it one last go and tried turning it on, but nothing not a single sound. "Hells Bells." I said.

  Emmett laughed, “How very Scottish of you." He said.

  "Right we will have to hitchhike” I said. “Let's just hope we get a lot of Scott’s driving past and not many Letticia’s.” Emmett looked at me strangely, so I explained. “Because Scott’s want to pick up Hitchhikers and Letticia’s don’t and won’t ever again.” He still looked at me strangely. He had no idea what I was on about, I had no time to keep explaining so left him looking confused. We stood on the side of the road, I had my thumb out and Emmett hid his hand behind me so the motorists couldn't see we were handcuffed together as that really wasn't a good lo
ok. As the cars kept driving passed us without stopping I was starting to realise there were a lot of Letticia's on the road who agreed with my opinion about picking up Hitchhikers.

  As each car passed, I made the comment, "There goes another Letticia, and another, and another.” We would go through periods of a few minutes where there were no cars in sight at all. I took this opportunity to ask Emmett, now that we were on the same chapter, where Scott’s and my Bags and wallets were.

  He said, "I'm sorry I sold them to a guy who was very keen to get his hands on them for some reason. He was driving by when you and Scott ran off into the bush with my bags.” I looked at him with that very disappointed mum face. He looked back at me with an apologetic face, Emmett was genuinely sorry. I could see it in his eyes. Yes, he was the Jewellery thief, but he had just somehow lost his way in life and made some bad decisions along the way. He just needs somebody to believe in him.

  I was a sucker for an accent even an Irish one at that, he had me believing he was ready to change, well time will tell I thought. I was still trying to work out who he reminded me of. For some reason one of the singers from the band ‘New Kids on the block’ kept popping into my head. I decided to give up on trying to figure out which one though as I had more important things to focus on.

  Just then a car stopped. “Finally, we have a Scott” I yelled. Emmett and I walked hand in hand, not by our own free will though to the waiting car. We awkwardly opened the back door of the car and slid in.

  “Gidday mate” the very sounding Australian driver said, “where to?” he asked.

  “Just to Biboohra Police station, thanks.” I answered.

  “Oh, why you going there?” he asked suspiciously. Looking at both our hands that were behind our backs.

  “Oh we just have a few matters to resolve that's all, and we are in a bit of a hurry too.” I said as I looked at the time on the cars clock on the dashboard which read 11.55am.